Belt-fastener.



No. 643,348. Patented Feb. I3, |900.

A. L. EAToN. BELT FASTENER.

(Application filed Apr. 12, 1899.)

(No Modei.)

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llNi'rnn STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

ANDREl/V `LINCOLN EATON, OF NET YORK, N. Y.

BELT-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 643,348, datedFebruary 13, 1900..

Application filed April 12, 1899.

To all whom it may concer/"t:

Be it known that I, ANDREW LINCOLN EA- TON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in thecounty and State of New York, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Belt-Fasteners, of which the following is aspecification.

The invention relates to means for joining the ends ofpower-transmitting belts, and belongs to that class in which a platelies across the line of the abutting belt ends and is secured to thelatter. lts object is to provide a plate which may be exactly andquickly applied and which will successfully endure and reliably holdunder the severe strains to which it may be subjected.

The invention consists of a plate of thin metal provided withperforations on each side of the transverse center line adapted toreceive rivets or analogous fastening devices by which it is secured tothe abutting ends of the belt. The center line is plainly marked byslightly projecting points on the side edges, so that the plate may beproperly located upon the line of abutment and also serving tostrengthen ythe plate along such line. The metal adjacent to theperforations is raised or embossed, and the swells thus formed onopposite sides are joined by longitudinal connecting-ribs similarlyproduced, thus stiffeni n g the whole and aiding efficiently towithstand the tendency to flex or bend and again straighten in passingaround the pulley, which, if allowed, soon produces fracture along theline of flexure. The swells also serve to elevate the rvetdieads tofacilitate their removal when required, and means are provided forbracing or supporting the rivets, so that they will be held practicallyata right angle to the plate under all conditions, and thus successfullyresist the tendency to assume an angular position and pull out underexcessive strains.

The invention also consistsin certain details of construction, to behereinafter described.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification and show theinvention as l have carried :itout in practice.

Figure l is a face view of a belt-joint l formed in accordance with theinvention. Fig. 2 is a corresponding edge view. Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsection taken on the line 3 3 in Fig. l, and Fig. 4 is a transversesection taken on the line -l 4 in the same figure. Fig. 5 is a face viewof the plate alone. Fig.v 6is a section on the line 6 6 in Fig. 5. Fig.7 is a sectional view of a portion similar to Fig. 3, but on a largerscale. Figs. 8 and 9 are face views corresponding to Fig. 5, but showingdifferent forms and sizes of plates.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

A and A are the adjacent ends of a belt abuttingtogether along the lineof separation a.

B B are the fastener-plates, struck by dies or otherwise from thin sheetmetal, preferably low steel of suitable gage, having a generalrectangular outline with rounded projecting corners B andoutwardly-extending points B2, one on each side edge on the transversecenter line. Perforations l), arrangedin pairs equally spaced onopposite sides of the centerline, receive rivets O or like securingmeans by which the plate is joined to the belt ends.

a slightly-raised circular portion or swell B3, from which extends asimilarly-formed longitndinal rib B4, reaching the corresponding swellon the opposite side of the center line, as shown. The embossed orraised portions B3 B4 show on the upper or exposed face as convexembossing and on the lower face as corresponding sunken surfaces andserve the important function of stiffening the whole structure, as4before stated. The swells B3 also serve to hold the rivet-heads C abovethe general surface of the plate, thus allowing them to be easilyengaged bya cold-chisel or other tool when the rivets are to be removedto shorten the belt or for other reasons. A portion b of the plateimmediately in rear of each perforation is not deiiected from thegeneral plane and, with the opposite inner edge `h2 of the swell B3,serves to brace the rivet. As indicated in the figures, the tension onthe belt tends to open the joint a and correspond ingly change the angleof the rivet relatively to the plate by forcing the lower end outward inthe direction shown by the curved arrows Each perforation is partiallysurrounded by IOO in Fig. 7, which, if not resisted, would permit thebody of the 4rivet to assume an angle so nearly in line with the planeof the belt as to endanger the hold and, if the strain were su flicient,to be withdrawn endwise and break the connection. The construction shownserves to preserve the relative angularityof the plate and rivet, thehigher inner edge Z22 serves as an abutment for the upper end of therivet, and the strain on the lower end is delivered leverwise upon theplate at the point b at the lower level. Thus if the rivet fairly fillsthe perforation it cannot be deflected until the metal at either b' orb2 gives way and allows the perforation to enlarge.

It is important that the opposite rivets composing each pair lie asnearly as may be in the line of direct strain, and this end is attainedby carefully spacing the perforations b and producing an indicating-markon the exact center line, by which the plate may be properly located. Iprefer to make the marks in the form of points B2, as described, so thatin addition to their indicating function they also serve to increase thestrength along that line on which fracture due to flexing is most liableto occur. Thus formed and applied to the squarely-cut abutting ends ofthe belt with the points coincident with the line of separation therivets when driven will lie in the desired positions. I have shown therivets as of the bifurcated type and prefer that form for the reasonthat they may be more easily driven and when properly clenched,preferably with the curl of the points transverse to the belt, they holdreliably and project but little, if any, on the friction side of thebelt.

The fastener is strong, cheaply manufactured, and is easily andaccurately placed in position and fastened, but may be removed whenoccasion requires.

Modifications may be made in the forms and proportions without departingfrom the principle of the invention. Parts of the invention may be usedwithout the whole.

There may be a greater or less number of perforations l). Fig. 8 shows aform adapted to receive four rivet-s. A short rib B5 aids in stieningthis construction, which is intended to serve with lighter belts. Fig. 9shows a single-link form of the invention, having but two perforationsjoined by a rib. Four, six, or more holes are preferable,as betteradapted to resist racking and torsional strains, and I prefer placing`several plates side by side on a wide belt, as shown in Fig. l, to theemployment of a single wide plate.

Care should be taken to insure that equal portions of the plate lie oneach belt end. This is facilitated by the indicating-points B2. Insteadof the forked rivets shown ordinary rivets adapted to serve with burs,as usual, may be employed, if preferred.

I have shown the plates slightly curved to conform somewhat to thepulleys on which the belt may run. The degree of curvature may bevaried, or the plate may be plane. I prefer the whole as shown.

Although I have described the plate as formed of thin metal stamped toshape, it will be understood that it may he 'cast in malleable iron orother material.

I attach importance to the fact that the compression caused by theriveting forces the material of the belt into the concavities on theunder face of the plate, and thus increases the frictional hold of thelatter upon the belt.

I claimp l. The belt-fastener plate B in a single piece havingperforations at opposite sides of the transverse center line adapted toreceive the fastening means, struck-up ribs connecting the perforationsupon opposite sides of said transverse centerline and projections oneach side of said plate inthe plane thereof at right angles to thelongitudinal center line and serving the double function ofstrengthening the plate at its longitudinal center and indicating theproper location of the transverse center line relatively to the beltends with which it is used, whereby the plate is evenly spaced as to theineetingends of the belt-sections, substantially as specified.

2. In a belt-fastener plate of thin metal having perforations adapted toreceive rivets or analogous fastening means, a swell partiallysurrounding each perforation and formed by striking up the metal atthose points, the supporting edge b formed by said swell serving as anabutment to the upper portion of the body of the rivet, in combinationwith an unelevated portion of the plate at a lower level forming theedge h2 and serving to support the body on the opposite side at thatpoint, all substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.

3. In a belt-fastener plate of thin metal havin g perforations onopposite sides of the transverse center line adapted to receive thefastening means, swells about said perforations and ribs connecting saidswells, formed with the latter' by striking up the metal of thoseportions, and abutments for the rivet, all combined and arranged toserve substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.

4. The plate B having the oppositely-arlranged perforations b h, rivetsC, C extending through the latter, the swells B3 partially surroundingthe perforations and forming with the plane of the plate the supportingedges b and b2 for said rivets, and the ribs B4 connecting opposingpairs of swells, all combined and arranged to serve substantially asherein specified.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I affix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

ANDRE LINCOLN EATON.

Vitnesses:

ROBT. CONNOR, CHARLEs R. SEARLE.

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